So much FUN! An FMS Fox Glider 3000mm Review

This FMS Fox 3000mm Powered Glider came through the shop a while back and it's pretty darn awesome! In addition to being huge, it flies great. I've not done much with sailplanes in the past, and so this was one of my first attempts into it and I had an absolute blast with it! #sailplane #goodtimes #foxglider
▼Links to Everything used on the model below▼
FMS 3000mm Fox Aerobatic EP Glider Sources
FMS Hobby►bit.ly/FMSFox3m
FairRC►shrsl.com/3t73r
Horizon Hobby►bit.ly/HHFMSFox3m
6s 5000mah Battery ► bit.ly/Sptm6s5000
Spektrum AR8020T Receiver ► bit.ly/SptmAR8...
Spektrum NX Radio ► bit.ly/SpktmTx
ERNST Airplane Stand ► amzn.to/3ftOv0w
Deflection Meter ► bit.ly/Deflect...
SEE MORE!
FMS 1400mm F4U Corsair • Unleashing the FMS F4U...
E-flite T-28 1.2m Trojan • E-flite T-28 Trojan 1....
FMS Rafale 80mm EDF • FMS Rafale 80mm EDF PN...
▼HELP SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL▼
Join the Patreon Team ► / thercgeek
Buy Me a Coffee ► www.buymeacoff...
Horizon Hobby ► bit.ly/HorizHby
Legend Hobby ► bit.ly/LegendH...
FMS Hobby ► bit.ly/FMSHobby
RTL Fasteners ►bit.ly/RTLFstnr
Bitgo Hobby ► bit.ly/BitgoHby
RIPT Apparel ► bit.ly/GeekRIP... (Awesome Geek Shirts!)
StarBond CA Glue ► bit.ly/StarBondCA (Use Code "Geek10" at checkout to save 10% OFF your purchase!)
TRCG Swag & Shirts►teespring.com/...
TRCG Centerburner AB Lights ► thercgeek.com/...
TRCG 3D Printing ► thercgeek.com/...

[@jeffstrametz6576]

I have been a glider junkie (In addition to all my other RC planes) since the beginning. Slope gliding is totally addictive and a adrenalin rush! I have this Fox glider that was "abandoned" at our club field after a crash by it's former owner. I will have this beauty in the air after some wing repair. Looking forward to flying it at the field and slope! It will be fun to watch YOU as the glider addiction sets in! Thanks for sharing your expertise!

[@Thercgeek]

It really is extremely fun and very peaceful. My friend and I have had a blast flying it

[@SteveWhiteside]

Very cool vid, I will have to try this plane out when I am a better flyer!

[@davidsnyder238]

This one has been on my list for a while. Glad you had fun with it!

[@Thercgeek]

It’s super fun

[@sylvainlegault7345]

Really love my Fox 3M, if i feel like gliding and if i feel to have prop power well everything is there…..a 2 in 1 😊

[@richtanis1573]

Also, we found that adding packaging tape along the leading edges made the wing much stronger and the plane a little faster

[@Thercgeek]

Cool, thanks for the tip!

[@JustPlaneChris]

Uh oh, now you've done it. You've sampled the fun of a powered glider! If you really want to have some fun, look for some kind of "hotliner" or F5B style model like the Enigma II from SoaringUSA. Imagine something with twice the climb rate, twice the power-off speed, and even better soaring capability. It's addictive!

[@Thercgeek]

I’m quite familiar with the hotliners, they look like a blast!

[@IceMan2035]

Love the turbine one it's a nice looking glider.

[@jcb6713]

I started in RC with Goldberg glider kits. many, many years ago 🙂 always a fun time even today...nice vid...

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks 👍

[@jamesbrown7758]

Cool video. Love the sound of the powered off pass!

[@richard1472]

Except for one thing, the noisier it is, the draggier it is.

[@Thercgeek]

@Richard, you’re not wrong. That’s why I mentioned imagining flying a composite version how much better it would cruise at the end of the vid. Still fun though!

[@Thercgeek]

@james brown I love it too 😁

[@JustwingitRC]

Awesome review my friend! Not only is this thing YUGE, it's surprisingly agile! Thanks for sharing 😁👍

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks brother, It really is! 😊

[@RubyS.1]

I like how it just paused midair. I really like that model

[@richtanis1573]

RCTWINS My brother and I had sailplanes of all sizes up to 7 meters wingspan and 100 other planes, out of all of them sailplanes were the most fun!!

[@user-rx8qq8sk9ydv1ce5ib]

Awesome as always. Would be cool to review the new FrSky RS Radio and tell us your thoughts about it if you get your hands on one. Thanks

[@johnmueller5482]

Looks you had a lot of fun flyin it

[@Thercgeek]

I definitely do 😊

[@payitfwdrcl6171]

Chris. I too am a novice so to speak with gliders. I have the FMS 2.5m ASW-17. It is a blast to fly. Similar modular assembly as the 3m with small differences. I did look hard at the 3m version, but I typically fly solo at my field these days. So the 2.5m version suited my needs. Glad to see you like it as well. Always a good option to have on those not so perfect flying days. 👍👋😊

[@Thercgeek]

Yes indeed!

[@hubschenk1652]

👍 This is more of a fast glider for aerobatic than an elegant glider. I fly a HERON from Multiplex (2.4m). If so, my next one will have more wingspan and a folding EDF drive and retractable landing gear for ground launch. Not everyone has a 'deputy' to throw the plane in the sky... 😄

[@Thercgeek]

Nice 👍

[@IceMan2035]

Mibo has Red Bull one and I think it's about this size or bigger than that. It also sells for over $600 more than this one. I want that one in my collection along with a few more.

[@austinhcoe]

Set up dual timers for total flight time and motor on time. It's addicting to hunt for thermals or ridge lift.

[@brianchambers1515]

Wish they come back out with it

[@mithrandir1313]

those thick trailing edges are like 20+ square inches of base drag!! :O

[@Thercgeek]

Yeah, the trailing edges are huge on it. That’s always the case with foam. I’ve pondered a bunch how manufacturers could fix that and I have an idea how it could be done.

[@lextek595]

Gliders are cool!

[@Thercgeek]

Yeah they are!

[@robc5296]

I have been meaning to try a power glider also, seems very relaxing. Chris , please let us know what camera(s) you mounted on her, when you get a chance/in a future video.

[@Thercgeek]

It really is quite relaxing and fun. The cameras are just runcams. Been using those more of late: amzn.to/3Lxq5Fa

[@ficosk8]

I was wondering if with the big one you could also mix the flaps with the ailerons to do full span ailerons :)

[@Thercgeek]

Shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Will just require separating out the flaps and then mixing.

[@richardlong3615]

Have you separated the ailerons and flaps so you can run full wing ailerons and crow braking - I have and I thought I would have to cut the Y lead and fit another plug but it turns out that if you remove the wing socket and pull it out there are plugs already there I removed them and added separate servo extensions and now have them plugged into separate channels. The programming (FrSky X20) is a little tricky as the aileron and flap servo arms are different lengths but have managed it so they synchronise when using full wing ailerons and triple rates. Ive not flown since this change but looking forward to it. The model is brilliant - I had a friend throw it for me and it nearly pulled him over - its presence in the air is awesome

[@Thercgeek]

Sounds like fun!

[@richardlong3615]

@@Thercgeek It is - have now flown it since the modification and the aileron authority has increased incredibly - the crow is like flying it into wall it slows down so fast

[@MrWagner528]

Great video! I'm gonna have to get me one now. Your field looks sweet with all the colors.. Where are you flying at?

[@lw216316]

Cane Ridge, near Nashville,

[@Thercgeek]

@Kurt Wagner thanks! What he said ⬆️ on location. 😁. Awesome field with a great club!

[@carllubbok4375]

Enjoyed your video. Just ordered one! Curious if you have tried it with 5S lipo. I have lots of 5S lipos in the 5000 and 6000mah from my rc boating days. You think the Fox 3000 can takeoff with a 5s?

[@Thercgeek]

Honestly, I’m not sure what kind of pull it would have with a 5s pack. Seems feasible, I just don’t know what the climb performance would be like.

[@victorrcjets7660]

Not your usual aircraft but they are fun in their own way huh😊

[@Thercgeek]

Yeah, not my usual but super fun! 😊

[@stewartkeeble2371]

Hey Chris, just watch out for the motor mount as the torque from the motor/prop combo would pull the nose right off on the mk1 version.. The mount and motor holes are drilled in the same line🙄 so there’s not much metal left between the holes..ask me how I know!!😬

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks for the heads up!

[@sambuvca22]

I had to sand down the carbon spar for the wings. That thing just wouldnt slide in. Im gonna maiden it today!

[@Thercgeek]

Good luck! I’m sure you’ll have a blast with it. 😊

[@sambuvca22]

@@Thercgeek Went well. need to work on surface set up and CG but i loved it. Very easy to fly. Its a floater for sure

[@rossm8231]

Excellent review! Do you feel like the airframe can handle a more powerful motor system?

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks! I suppose it would depend on how much more power you’re wanting to out in there. The airframe is decently rigid, but it’ll only handle so much more power imo.

[@odiewan67]

There is no Dana, only ZUUUUUUUUUL!

[@Thercgeek]

🤣🤣 good eye! 😁

[@mikeanddeepetrillo5602]

Nice, biggest i have is 2400 mm sky surfer. I would like to fly that one, love the sound! What is the price point?

[@Thercgeek]

It’s $499, I have a link in the description.

[@jeffhenderson3318]

Cancer-Free and ready to fly again! (The chemo and radiation shakes were bad for about 3 months after treatment, but I couldn’t stand not flying, so I took out the Hawksky, Conscendo and the ArrowsRC glider with the sole purpose to get airborne, gain altitude fly in slow circles at half throttle. That lasted about a lap and 1/2…. Then it was wide open, loops and rolls and low passes. After 9 years and a bunch of planes you can take flying for granted and bitch and moan about everything from the weather, bad landing gear, poor craftsmanship, etc. It’s not till flying is taken away from you for 6 months and you wish you could stand up for 10 minutes that you can really enjoy the sport again. With that said, the “Big Fox” looks like a blast to fly. It has to be popular. It always seems to be back ordered.

[@Thercgeek]

Congrats man, welcome back!!

[@HowardBass-ic7dq]

You can launch yourself. I've set my gyro on the self-leveling set around 35 to 40 degree angle and set my radio beside me and launch it myself and have plenty time to pickup my radio and flip safe mode off and fly -fly, LOL

[@Thercgeek]

That’s fair. I’m too chicken to try it myself, haha! I’m terrible at hand launching generally. 😬

[@HenryL161947]

check out the crow position ,,,,,fun

[@jayaustin3096]

That thing is a tank. I love my arrows szd 54 power glider. Awesome, and it has flaps. Way more capable then that monster. Lol. Thats cool though. Its always sold out.

[@Thercgeek]

Yeah, she’s a beast, haha! Flies well though.

[@AtomicFrawg]

gliding / soaring 😄 Be careful with high speed flights. It will go from "man that fast and sounds cool", to Flutter and blowing the wings and tail apart in a split second.

[@jamesmarshall9420]

FMS also has the FOX's little sister in the ASW - 17 2.5m Glider, which is far more versatile...

[@Thercgeek]

True!

[@lw216316]

Its a thumb up from launch control.😁

[@Thercgeek]

Was a fun day out there, wasn’t it?

[@ATCATL]

How does it compare with FMS 2.5m ASW-17 glider?

[@Thercgeek]

Unfortunately I can’t really say as I’ve not flown the asw-17.

[@otc-x1-b9]

Sailplane mod ..... by Chris... coming soon.

[@Thercgeek]

🤣

[@philippeneuhaus5694]

Nice yust can buy one on second hand Markt for 300 chf

[@Thercgeek]

Nice!

[@philippeneuhaus5694]

@@Thercgeek But prefer full carbon gliders. We call them Schaum Waffeln here in Swiss the FMS form gliders. Or whit Oracover and thin wings for a good Preform here in the Swiss Alps we don't need engine on the gliders

[@andrewzaner9375]

Watching your FOX glider video inspired me to get one. I converted it to 90MM 12S EDF and put some wingtip smoke on her..The plane really comes alive with tons of power and that great jet whoosh sound. Here is a short video..super fun. This is my go to airplane in my fleet now. :-) kzbin.info/www/bejne/hX3bmmuugd99d6c

[@Thercgeek]

Ha, that’s awesome!

[@iwontreplybacklol7481]

Basically a flyer styrofoam cooler. Looks like a pig in the air to be honest. Doesnt really 'glide' at all, mostly a climb and fall and airspeed drops fast once you level out. Just watch a real fiberglass/carbon quality sailplane of this size to see the astounding difference. I would be bored with this in less than 10 minutes for sure.

[@Thercgeek]

You really can’t compare the two. A glass sailplane will out soar a foam sailplane every time. But, you’ll also pay for that performance too in the price point of the composite too. They each have their place.

[@iwontreplybacklol7481]

@@Thercgeek this is $500 pnp. You can get a 'real' one in fiberglass/carbon for the same price. Say a tjirc magnus which is $300 in the states, add motor (use a quad copter outrunner, they're $30), esc, servos and its cheaper and blows the doors off of this performance wise.

[@Thercgeek]

Cool, thanks for the info!

[@richard1472]

"Sail planing"? It's called soaring, silly.

[@Thercgeek]

Hahaha, I told you I’m new at this 🤣🤣

[@looneytunes47]

Scale paint scheme? you mean completely white fom nose to tail? thats the paint scheme of most full size gliders...Boring.....

[@Thercgeek]

Haha, I suppose that’s true. But even so, that’s what my scale OCD longs for every time. 😆

[@richard1472]

A cool design, poorly executed.